An investigator for the Hopkinsville Police Department was among crime scene investigators from across the state to graduate Friday from the Department of Criminal Justice Training's Kentucky Criminalistics Academy: Crime Scene Technician course.

The academy is made up of two five-week, 200-hour courses that instructors developed for full-time and newly appointed CSIs and patrol officers who serve as CSIs for their agencies. In addition to sworn officers, the KCA is open to civilian CSIs who work for law enforcement agencies.

Among the graduates is Robert Flick III, a civilian CSI who works for the Hopkinsville Police Department, and Officer Kelley Rager, with the Madisonville Police Department.

The Crime Scene Technician course certification is the first of two five-week courses officers can complete in crime-scene investigation. These students may return to participate in the second five-week course, completing the full range of training offered through the Kentucky Criminalistics Academy.

The Crime Scene Technician certification includes training in bloodstain-pattern recognition, shooting reconstruction and bullet trajectory, alternate light sources and luminol, crime scene management, digital photography, trace evidence, DNA and more.